MUMBAI (TIP): The Shiv Sena on JUne 19 anointed Uddhav Thackeray as the saffron combine’s CM pick. The Sena president later told journalists he had to honour Shiv Sainiks’ collective wish. “The CM issue can be decided by discussions (with the BJP).

We are not in a hurry,” Thackeray said, indicating, for the first time, that he didn’t intend to toe the hard line on the issue. Senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde said the CM issue will be decided by leaders of the Mahayuti, or grand (Sena- BJP) alliance. Earlier, Aditya Thackeray, Uddhav’s son and Yuva Sena president, cleared the decks for an impromptu endorsement of his father’s CM candidature from Shiv Sainiks. Addressing a party congregation at a Bandra auditorium, Aditya sought a voice vote on the issue.

To his question as to who would be the CM of Maharashtra after the October assembly election, the party representatives replied, “Uddhav Thackeray”, in unison. “This is the Sena way of seeking ratification from party workers on a crucial policy issue,” a senior party leader said on the sidelines of the conclave. “Uddhavji was elected as the Sena’s executive president in 2002 in a similar manner.”

Sanjay Raut, MP and executive editor of party mouthpiece Saamna, said there should be no glitches in Uddhav becoming CM after the assembly elections. “Just as the Sena has wholeheartedly accepted Narendra Modi as PM, the BJP should accept Uddhav Thackeray as Maharashtra’s CM,” said Raut.